The Astros determined pregame Friday the 23-year-old righthander would rejoin the RedHawks. Postgame, Cosart acknowledged the irony of the situation. But he sounded as determined to become a full-time Astro as he did before spring training, when the League City native said he was willing to carry teammates’ water just to be a part of the 25-man roster.

“Motivation. I mean, 100 percent,” Cosart said. “I don’t think that’s a fact of them not believing that I can pitch here. They told me right now, you’re hopefully going to pitch here for a long time. I want to be a Houston Astro for a long time.

“So, you know it’s kind of tough after an outing like that. But it is what it is. I know I’m not a perfected pitcher. There’s a lot of things that I can work on that even may be really good — I want to be the best. So I’ll go down there and do whatever I’ve got to do and I want to be back here soon. And hopefully they can get on a run and win some games and when I come back up here it’s a great atmosphere and we just go from there.”

Cosart was officially optioned late Friday and veteran outfielder Justin Maxwell was activated from the seven-day disabled list.

Better than it seemed

Cosart’s debut was amazing in person. It looks even better on paper.

Cosart is the first pitcher in baseball’s modern era (since 1900) to end an opponent’s win streak of eight games or longer by throwing eight or more scoreless innings during an MLB debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Cosart’s 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball were the longest in an MLB debut since Detroit’s Bill Slayback reached seven innings against the New York Yankees on June 26, 1972, according to Elias.

The rookie righty’s eight innings were the most by an Astro in their MLB debut since Dan Larson hurled a nine-inning complete game on July 18, 1976 at Montreal.

Cosart became the first pitcher in more than a decade to go eight or more scoreless innings in his debut. The last was Detroit’s Andy Van Hekken on Sept. 3, 2002 vs. Cleveland (nine innings, no runs).

Cosart’s also the first pitcher to throw eight or more scoreless frames on two hits or less in a debut since San Diego’s Jimmy Jones on Sept. 21, 1986 at Houston (nine innings, one hit, no runs).

According to ESPN, the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in their MLB debut was Cincinnati’s Bumpus Jones in 1892.

Better but not

Cosart owned Tampa Bay on Friday and the Astros held on for a tight 2-1 win. But Rays ace lefthander David Price statistically outpitched Cosart.

Price, who fell to 3-5, threw a complete game eight-hitter, allowing two runs and no walks while striking out three on just 87 pitches (70 strikes).

The 2012 AL Cy Young winner was undone by a rough first inning, during which he allowed four hits, including’ Carlos Corporan’s two-run single to center field.

Price’s 87-pitch complete game bested James Shields’ previous franchise record of 92 pitches in nine innings.

The lefty’s pitch count was the lowest in MLB for a nine-inning complete game since Boston’s Aaron Cook required just 81 on June 29, 2012 at Seattle.

According to the Rays, Price became the first pitcher since 1999 (when complete pitch count was first available) to record a complete game in 87 pitches and lose.

Bigger V

Astros closer Jose Veras has converted his last 10 save attempts during a streak that dates back to May 31 and hasn’t allowed a run in 14 of his last 15 appearances.